ARTFUL EXPANSION – Roberta Miller, executive director of the Cape Cod Art Association, is thrilled to announce their capital campaign, which includes a significant expansion to their building on Route 6A in Barnstable.

Cape Cod Art Association launches capital campaign

What does an art association do when they’ve got too much art and not enough space? If it’s the Cape Cod Art Association they launch a spirited capital campaign aimed at raising funds toward literally raising their roof and adding much-needed space.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Roberta Miller, CCAA executive director. “We’re going to push out the back of the building 25 feet on two levels and bring the gift shop down to the lobby level to make it more accessible.”

Overall, Miller said, they hope to add 4,000 square feet to the existing building on Route 6A in Barnstable. The CCAA will be working with Lineal, Inc., an architecture and building firm of Cape Cod and Boston.

The inspiration for the expansion came from surging membership, which has grown in recent years to 1,000 members. With that number, Miller said finding space for events, classes and even exhibits has proven challenging.

“We’ve had to limit the amount of paintings on the wall,” Miller said. “We can’t accommodate all our exhibits.”

Classroom space has also been limited, and Miller is looking forward to offering more prospective students a spot once renovations are complete.

“This building was built in 1972 as a summer residence for the Art Association,” Miller said. “It’s not insulated and we’re not totally up to code as far as accessibility. It’s a very unusual building because the roof lines go every which way.”

Miller said that not only will the proposed expansion allow for needed changes, it will also offer members an updated space.

“We could do so many more programs and activities if we had more room,” Miller said.

But first there must be fundraising. To get started, the CCAA has applied and been approved for a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant of $27,000 that will cover approximately half of Lineal’s fees as they enter the permitting process.

Miller estimates the CCAA will need to raise between $850,000 and $1 million to complete the project. The first official fundraising event will be a sunset cruise aboard the Hyannis Whale Watcher Aug. 20 from 7-9:30 p.m.

Miller said the festive evening will include a cocktail party, live music featuring the Mike Dumas Band, dancing, hors d’oeuvres and more.

“I think it will be a fan night,” Miller said, adding that the CCAA is planning more fundraisers and will also be applying for other grants.

Miller said that ideally the CCAA would keep its familiar façade, with the expansion focused on the rear of the building.

According to Miller, architect Alyssa Lamora, owner of Lineal, has been researching the project, including talking with similar facilities about how they approached comparable projects.

Above all, said Miller, the expansion is about providing members and contributing artists with a facility worthy of their art and activities.

“We’re probably one of the largest running art associations on the Cape,” Miller said. “We’ve had a number of prestigious artists who started with us and have gone on to great things.”

Those artists have included Ron Tinney, Paul George and Marie Louise Hutchinson, among many others.

“There are many people who have really achieved a tremendous level in the art world, and we’re proud they are affiliated here,” Miller said. “We seem to be somewhat trend setters.”

For more information about the Cape Cod Art Association visit capecodartassoc.org. Tickets for the sunset cruise are $85.